Shoe buffer



Mardi 12, 1940- E. 1 HoLLENBEcK 2,192,910

S HO E BUFFER Filed April 24, 1957 5 :i MIUR ORN S.

Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to and has for a purpose the provision of a shoe buffer which is characterized by its structural simplicity, low cost of manufacture, easy mode of assembly of its parts to facilitate manufacture and equally easy of disassembly to allow substitution of a new strip of buing material when required.

I will describe only one form of shoe buffer embodying my invention, and will then point out I0 the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in top plan one form of shoe buffer embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the frame comprised in the buffer.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the spring member embodied in the buier.

Referring specifically to the drawing, my shoe buffer essentially consists of a spring member S, a frame F and strip B of suitable buiiing material such as the sheep skin shown.

The member S is made from a length of spring metal or other spring material to provide a at elongated body I5 having end portions which are curved and extended to the same side of the body to form a pair of opposed hooks I6, I6.

The frame F is formed of a single length of inexible wire which is bent in the general form of a rectangle (Fig. 3) to provide end portions Il, Il and side portions I8, I8. The side portions are bowed outwardly to one side of the frame,`

while the end portions'are bent inwardly toward each other for a major portion of. their length to form projections, I9, I9 disposed in the plane of the indented portions.

The strip of sheep skin B is 'of a width to exceed that of the frame F, While its length is such that it can be extended lengthwise around the front side of. the spring member S, then around and into the hooks I6, I6, and finally across the back of the spring so as to completely cover it and thus provide a soft surface for the lingers of the user when gripping the frame F, in addition to indented part of one end portion into one of the hooks I6, and then inserting the other indented part of the other end portion into the other hook. As the frame is designed, its length exceeds thel distance between the hooks, hence, in order 5 to cause they last end portion of the frame to pass into the respective hook, it is necessary to flex the spring body I5 inwardly at its center suiciently to move the hook to an angle in which its free end together with the bui-ting ma- 10 terial clears the frame.

With the frame F applied as described, the spring S is held under tension to urge the hooks toward the frame ends, and thus the hooks are caused to coact with the frame ends to clamp 15 the buing strip between the two and with such security as to `maintain the strip against slipping lengthwise on the spring.

Accidental displacement of the frame edgewise from the hooks is prevented by the projections I9 20 abutting the opposite edges of the hooks I6 through the bumng strip. Thus, once the frame is snapped in place, it is immovable on the buiiing strip and spring, and can be removed only by exerting sufficient pull on either end of the strip 25 to remove it from between one frame end and the respective hook, when the frame becomes detached from both of the hooks.

Manifestly, the bowed side portions of the frame provide a handle which is adapted to be gripped in manipulation of the buffer in th polishing of shoes.'

Although I have herein shown only one form of shoe buffer embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modica- 35 tions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe buffer, comprising; a flat spring mem- 40 ber having terminal hooks; a strip of exible material covering the outer sideof said member and extended into said hooks; and a rigid member having indented end portions extending into the hooks and against the material, so that the hooks 45 and the rigid member coact to secure the material within the hooks and to confine' the members against lateral displacement.

2. A shoe buffer, comprising; a iiat spring member having terminal hooks; a strip of `iiexible material covering one side of said member and extended into said hooks; and a frame having spaced projections on the ends thereof, between which the hooks 01. said member are received, said frame coacting with said hooks to secure the strip Within the hooks and said projections conning the hooks against lateral displacement from the frame.

3. A shoe buffer, comprising; a. iat and narrow spring member having terminal hooks; a strip of bufng material extended around one side of said member and into said hooks; and a frame having ends Wider than the member extended into said hooks for securing said strip therein and for holding said strip in extended position at the ends of the member.

ERNEST L. HOLLENBECK. 

